Combination shutter awning



Malch 4, 1941. E. 1 BURKE 2,233,51

COMBINATION SHUTTER AWNING Filed Jan. 5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 4, 19411. E. .1 BURKE.

COMBINATION SHUTTER AWNING Filed Jan. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination awning and shutter. l

More particularly the invention relates to a device which may be used selectively either as an awning or as a shutter to cover a window opening without the need for removing the awning and substituting shutters, or vice versa.

The simplicity of the device renders the construction relatively inexpensive to make, even though it is ornamental in appearance.

" Another feature of the invention relates to the simplicity of construction wherein a minimum number of parts is used.

Another feature of the invention relates to the construction whereby when the device is used as a shutter covering an entire window opening it may be locked in closed position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following specication and claims, and it will be apparent in the vaccompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 isl a view in elevation showing the. device used as a shutter; l Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross-section similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in the raised position as used as an awning; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing certain details of and the relation between adjacent slats of the device and their manner of mounting on 'their spring supporting element.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig. l is shown a partial wall structure Ill of a house or other building having window frames I2 dening window openings therein. The window frames and openings may be of substantially standard condition having upper and lower window sashes I4 and I5 respectively (Fig. 2).

As viewed in Fig. l, the full length of the window opening is closed by the device which incorporates the features of the present invention and comprises a plurality of slats I6 secured to and mounted on spiral coil springs I8 and 20, these, therefore, constituting elastically extensible elements. There springs, which are alike, are-arranged to be secured at their respective upper ends 22V and 24 to the window frame structure as shown by hooking the ends of the springs over hooks 23and 25 (Fig. 4), and they are secured at their lower ends 28 and 30 to a stretcher rod 34. As shown in Fig. 1, the rod 34 is U-shaped and has tWo side arms 38 and 38 adjustably, that is pivotally, secured to a portion I2a of the window frame at 40 and 42 respectively: The stretcherrod 34 has'a'portionintermediate the arms y36 and 38 which extends transversely of the window opening andA to which the spring elements are secured as just indicated. 5

The stretcher rod 34 is provided with a securing element 44 which may be a rope, chain or other element secured to the rod at an intermediate point 4t` between the side arms andarranged-to pass through an'aperture l43m a sill v10 50 of the window frame. A similar aperture-52 is arranged on the inner-wall member ofthe window frame so that the-rope 44 mayv extend therethrough* for adjustment ofthe combination shutter and awning. As shownv in' Fig.y 2, 15 the location ofthe opening 48 is such` asfnot' to interfere with the movement of thewindow sash.

When thedevice is used'as a shutter, as seen inY Figs. l and 2, thev rope'44is drawn tight and fastened about a hook 54 as seen in Fig. 2, thereby-serving as a locking element for the shutter. In this position, the springs I8 and 20, being extensible elements, are stretched. It will be noted that they serve as the sole support for the cross slats.

As Villustrated in Fig. 4, each of the slats I6 isarrangedto be mountedv on the spring elements; of which 2Ilfis one, by means of suitable fastening means 56 which have loops BIJ en circling or enclosing one turn of the coil spring 2li and the two free end portions of the fastening means 56 are secured to one end edge portion of the slats by appropriate means such as screws 58. 4

It may be desirable in certain constructions to also attach resi-lient spring members 62 adjacent the edge of each slat opposite to the fastening means 5 so that the springs may rest upon-the next adjacent slat and serve as a spacing means to allow for circulation of air and the entrance of light.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the entire weight of the slats It,I stretcher rod 34 andarms 36jand 38 is supported by the springs 2t, thev springs sagging somewhat under the weight ofthe slats to provide the curve. substantially shownin Fig. 3. The movable slats overlap` to the extent of about 50% of their width, and` in that position the springs I8 vand 20'are not undertension, whereas when the device is used yasaShutter as observed in Fig. 2, and is extendedto close the full length of the window opening, the turns of the coil springs have been pulled apart and the slats have been moved relatively with recomprise supporting means, the length of each oiwhich is adjustable from the retracted condition f shown in Fig. 3 to the extended shape shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and furthermore, that all portions along a given length of these members are adjustable to the same degree. In other words, when the springs I8 and 20 are tensioned by elongating the 'structure for use as a shutter,

the springs being of uniform size throughout theiry length, the adjacent turns open up or separate the same distance throughout the length of the spring. In this Way, a substantially equal movement of the slats relative to each other is assured.

I claim: 1. In a combined awning and shutter, a stretchver rod adapted to extend transversely of. a window frame and having two arms adapted to be adjustably secured to the opposite sides of a v'window frame, a plurality of relatively movable ,slats extending parallel to said rod and in overlapping relation to each other, a plurality of extensible spring members connected to the top of a window frame and to said rod, and means for securing each slat to said springs. y

2. In a combined awning and shutter, a substantially rigid stretcher member adapted to extend transversely of a window frame and having two arms adapted to be adjustably secured to the opposite sides of a window frame, a plurality of relatively movable slats extending parl allel to said stretcher member and in slidable overlapping relation to each other, a plurality of extensible spring members connected to the .top ofva window frame and to said stretcher member, means lfor securing each slat to said springs, and means for locking the device in position asa shutter and substantially in the plane .of the window frame enclosing the window opening, the said springs being contracted and adjacent slats overlapping each other to the greatest extent when the device is in the open and raised position and said arms extend outwardly from the window frame, and said springs being extended and adjacent slats overlapping each other to the minimum extent possible in their rassembled relation when the device is used in the plane of the window frame and said arms extend substantially parallel to the window and said stretcher member is in its lowermost position.

3. In a combined awning and shutter, a stretcher rod adapted to extend transversely of a window frame and having two arms adapted 'to be adjustably secured to the opposite sides of a window frame, a plurality of relatively movable slats extending parallel to said rod and in overlapping relation to each other, a plurality of extensible spring members connected to the top of a window frame and to said rod, means for 4. In a combined awning and shutter, a substantially rigid stretcher member Vadapted to `extend transversely of a window frame and having two arms adapted to be adjustably secured to the opposite sides of a window frame, a plurality of relatively movable slats extending parallel to said stretcher member and in slidable overlapping relation to each other, a plurality of extensible spring members connected to the top of a window frame and to said stretcher member, means for securing each slat to said springs, means for locking the device in position as a shutter ,and substantially in the plane of the window frame enclosing the window opening, and means resiliently spacing adjacent slats from each other, the said springs being contracted and adjacent slats overlapping each other to the greatest extent when the device is in the open and raised position and said arms extend outwardly from the window frame, and said springs being extended and adjacent slats overlapping each other to the minimum extent possible in their vassembled relation when the device is usedv in the plane of the window frame and said arms extend substantially parallel to the window and said stretcher member is in its lowermost position.

5. In a combined awning and shutter, a stretcher rod adjustably secured to a window frame at the opposite sides thereof and extending transversely of the width'of the window', a plurality of relatively movable slats extending parallel to said rod, a plurality .of spring members secured to the window'frame and to said rod, means mounting each of said ,slats on said spring members, and means for holding the device in the fully extended position when used as a shutter and substantially in the plane of the window frame,V said means for :mounting lthe slats comprising a series ofi connecting elements each secured to the spring' at one pointalong its length'and each connecting element' having another portion of which y'is secured to the slat,

there being one such connecting element yfor each Vslat opposite each4 spring member.

6. In an awning device, a rod adapted to extend substantially the width of the window frame, a plurality of coiled springs of, substantially equal size throughout the length thereof having their upper ends secured to the frame at the upper side of the windowfopening and their lower ends secured to said rod, anda plurality of relatively movable -slats extending parallel to said rod arranged inoverlapping parallel relation and mounted on and supported solely by said springs.

7. In an awning device, a rod adapted to exl ,upper ends secured to the frame at theupper side Vof the window opening and their lower ends secured to said rod, a plurality' of relatively movable slats extending parallel to said rod arranged.

in overlapping parallel relation and mounted on and supported solely by said springs, and means vfor spacing that portion of said rod to which said springs are secured away from the window frame in certain positions.

JEROME BURKE, 

